Ethiopian Airlines Group, Africa’s Largest Airline Group and SKYTRAX Certified Four Star Global Airline, congratulated the entire Ethiopian family and the country at large, on the recognition of Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, as one of the most influential people of African descent in the category of business and entrepreneurship at a ceremony held in Addis Ababa last month.
The most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) is a global civil society initiative in support of the United Nation’s International Decade for People of African Descent, recognising high achievers in four categories; Politics and Governance, Business and Entrepreneurship, Media & Culture and Religious and Humanitarian.
Regarding the recognition, Mr GebereMariam, remarked, “It is an absolute honour to have received this prestigious recognition, an accolade that highlights the contribution of high achievers to Africa. First and foremost, my recognition is a tribute to the hardworking Ethiopian employees, management members, the board and the government of Ethiopia at large. The award demonstrates the incredibly important role Ethiopian airlines plays in the integration of Africa through a robust business. I have always taken a great deal of pride that Ethiopian is catalysing the much needed trade and investment, tourism, and people-to-people relations in the continent and beyond.”
African business leaders who wield an influence in Africa’s business and economic circles, he said, should promote business and entrepreneurship in collaboration with all concerned stakeholders to help ensure sustainability and development, capitalizing on one of the greatest assets of Africa, which is its young, fast-growing, and increasingly urbanised population.
Even with cut-throat competition being the order of the day in the aviation industry, Mr. Tewolde has demonstrated an outstanding strategic thinking and direction in spearheading the strikingly exceptional growth trajectory of Ethiopian and put the airline on global aviation industry ”game changers” map, under a 15-year growth roadmap, Vision 2025, a growth plan what the rest of the world referred to as an “over ambitious and unattainable.”
While much has evolved in the industry, Ethiopian has stood the test of time and achieved most of its overarching goals, going halfway through its projected 15-year plan. Ethiopian is now expanding its footprint to underserved global destinations and is serving global travellers with its signature African flavoured Ethiopian hospitality onboard and in the air. True to form, the airline has also continued pushing the frontiers of aviation technology with the 21st century new generation fleet.
Joining the airline thirty-plus years ago, Mr. Tewolde has climbed the ladder to be at the helm and won a plethora of awards including African CEO of the Year, Best African Business Leader, The Airline Strategy Award for Regional Leadership, the 2015 International Grand Prix Special Award in Milan and the Most Gender Focused CEO Award 2015 by the Leading Women of Africa Group among others.
